Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-22
HINTS ON FALL SOWING.
Tho Advantages Incident to Thorough
Preparation of the Soil.

/ Tho Advantages Incident to q Thorough
Preparation of the Soil.
It is a very prevalent practice among
farmers to SOW and plant too th1ckiy
/ trees, shrubs, corn, etc. are planted
too closely to derive the greatest adj
vantage. With the ground made mel.
low and level, the seed then distributed
evenly, and properly covered, much
less quantity than usually sown VIII
be sufficient, and the yield greater.
The drill which distributes evenly and
covers uniformly, is convincing proof
of this Some farmers say that all
grain will eventually be drilled in, and
as less seed is sown with it, the guam
| tity of seed will be reduced one-halt.
and that this will or ought to be re-
| duced. for too much is even sown with
the drill. Be this as it may, where the
ground is we'll prepared, as it should
be, the seed sound and good. broad
casting will certainly admit of a very
great reduction, and the yield be pro-
portionately greater There would be
stronger stalks. larger and fuller
heads, and far less loss by lodging.
There should be more care and pains
taken in preparing the ground and in
selecting seed. The ground should be
well broken and pulv erized. because
much depends on a good mellow seed
bed to insure rapid and vigorous
termination and growth of plant; also
the seed should be carefully selected.
Pass it through grading tanning
mill, or. if through an ordinary one,
with full wind on, so as to drive away
the light and imperfect grain, which
makes feeble growth. Sowing should
be done as near the right time, with
the ground in as proper condition to re-
ceive it as possible. This has much to
do with the future well-doing Of the
crop. Some farmers are ready to sow
almost any time, and are often induced
to sow earlier than they should, simply
because they are ready to get about it.
Instead of sowing because they have
got the ground ready, better withhold
the seed, and the more thoroughly
work the ground; then when the proper
time comes. the seed may be put in with
additional advantage. For all time and
labor spent in preparing the ground is
well spent, and will give satisfactory
results in the succeeding crop. Some
times, it is true, that the season is un-
favorable. either too dry or too wet,
when it is impossible to get the ground
properly prepared and in the right
time. On such occasions it only re-
mains to do the best that can be done..
and as near the right time as possible,
the blessing of seed time and harvest
time will. to some extent, rest upon
it, and some profit, at least, will be de-
rived.
In sowing grass seeds in the fall. if
on ground prepared for it alone, and
sown early enough TO get good start
or root-ho1d before cold weather, it is
not diff Quito get catch, but when
sown on land with wheat it is some
times, if late in the season. quite diff
cult to get set. The fall sowing is
best. but to sow early and heavily in
wheat the latter is often choked by the
grass and much damaged, hence it is
the practice of some good farmers to
SOW light seeding in the fall and an
other in the spring. thus obviating the
possibility of damaging the wheat by
too luxuriant fall growth. This is
at least harmless expedient. if not
altogether profitable one. james L
Ba,rd, tn american Rural Home.